Bethel baseball, softball post big wins

Bethel's baseball team used an eight-run fifth to down Okemah, while the Lady Wildcats run-ruled Washington.

Both Bethel’s softball and baseball team posted big wins on Monday. The Wildcats used an eight-run fifth inning to run-rule Okemah 14-6, while the Lady Wildcats dominated 4A No. 2 Washington 11-1 in slow-pitch softball action.

The baseball Wildcats (10-9) pounded out 15 hits in defeating the Panthers. Garret Fitzgerald and Kieser Hladick both went 4-for-4 in the contest. Fitzgerald had a triple and three runs batted in, while Hladick had a double and two RBIs.

Clint Simmons and Grady Sullivan had two hits apiece for Bethel.

The Wildcats jumped out to the lead with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 6-1 after four innings. But Okemah (5-8) countered with five in the top of the fifth to tie the score before the Wildcats used their big fifth inning to put the game away.

Brayden Diebold had a three-run double in the fifth inning, while Payton Epperley added a double.

Cade Lauck was the winning pitcher for Bethel, improving to 3-1 on the season by giving up three earned runs over five innings and striking out five.

In the Lady Wildcats’ win over Washington seven players had at lead two hits apiece. Bethel scored three in the first and six in the third to take a big lead before ending the contest in four innings by run rule.

Montana Price led the way with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, which included a three-run home run in the third and a solo shot in the fourth. Riley Steward went back-to-back with Price in the fourth and finished with two hits.